Assumption Parish deputies get body cameras

ASSUMPTION - The Sheriff's office purchased 31 body cameras within the last six months for law enforcement, and said it's a good thing for deputies and the public.

"There's nothing that this camera will delete or leave out. It captures audio, it captures video, so everything that is done and everything that is said between that deputy and the public is captured on that video," said Captain Ray Traigle.

The captain said in light of recent events involving officers of the law and the public, they wanted to make sure they were doing everything they could to make certain everyone was held accountable.

The sheriff's office is using two different types of cameras. One is a body-mount camera that stays on the chest of the officer. The other is called a flex camera, which can be clipped on the collar of the officer, on glasses or even a helmet.

The total cost of all 31 cameras is a little more than $11,000.

"I think the flex cameras offer us (more of an advantage) being that they are (on the eyeglasses or the collar of the deputy). If the deputy is looking left or right, then that camera is picking up what that deputy is looking at," said Captain Traigle. "Rather, if I'm wearing a body mount and if I look to the right and if I see something then the camera's only capturing what my body is showing straight to the front."

Traigle said they're looking to purchase about 20 more body cameras for the department.